Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
National

Faith of Canadians in Biden, U.S. slipped in the spring, Pew survey suggests

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 27 Jun, 2023 09:48 AM
  • Faith of Canadians in Biden, U.S. slipped in the spring, Pew survey suggests

Canadians still have a more positive view of the United States and its current commander-in-chief than they did three years ago — but that faith is showing signs of slipping, a new survey suggests. 

A new Pew Research Center survey of 23 countries released Tuesday found 57 per cent of Canadian respondents said they had a favourable view of the U.S., down from 63 per cent in 2022. 

It's still a far cry from the Donald Trump-era low of 35 per cent in 2020, as well as the 20-year high of 72 per cent measured in 2002 in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks the previous year. 

But there are clear signs — both in Canada and around the world — that early into his third year as the 46th U.S. president, the global euphoria that greeted Joe Biden's election win in 2020 has drifted from optimism to apprehension. 

"This year, our research finds that international ratings of the U.S. are generally positive, but people in the 23 countries surveyed are critical of the U.S. on certain measures," said senior Pew researcher Janell Fetterolf.

"While many say American society is similar to other wealthy nations, notable shares say the U.S. is less tolerant and a more dangerous place to live."

The survey also found less Canadian confidence in Biden to do the right thing regarding world affairs: 58 per cent, down from 61 per cent in 2022 and 77 per cent in 2021. 

Of those, 14 per cent expressed "a lot of confidence" and 44 per cent "some confidence," down from 25 per cent and 52 per cent, respectively, in 2021. At the other end of the ledger, 26 per cent said they had "no confidence at all," compared with 11 per cent two years earlier.

At the same time, however, 37 per cent said the U.S. takes Canada's interests into account when making international policy decisions, up from 34 per cent in 2021. It's the highest percentage recorded in Canada since the survey began in 2002. 

Indeed, the median response from respondents around the world was almost evenly split 50-50 on that question, a marked shift in sentiment, the centre reported. 

"The share who say the U.S. considers their interests on policy decisions at least a fair amount has increased significantly in many countries since the question was last asked," the survey found. 

"The share saying this is larger now than at any point over the past two decades in 12 countries, including Poland, Germany and the U.K. — three key NATO allies of the U.S."

Those findings, among others, likely reflect the outsized influence of Biden and the U.S. in Ukraine's war with Russia, which began in February 2022. In Poland alone, those surveyed gave the U.S. an approval rating of 93 per cent. 

"Poland's views of the U.S. improved dramatically last year after the start of the war in Ukraine and remain high this year."

Six in 10 of those surveyed in Canada said the U.S. contributes to peace and stability around the world, compared with 39 per cent who felt the opposite. 

And when asked to identify the world's leading economic power, 44 per cent of Canadian respondents chose the U.S., compared with 40 per cent who said China — a reversal of 2020, when China won out, 47 to 36 per cent. 

The survey also asked respondents to rate the U.S. on a host of institutional measures, including technological achievements, entertainment, universities, the military and standard of living. 

Three out of four Canadians surveyed rated U.S. entertainment — movies, music and television — as the best of or better than that from other wealthy nations, while only 25 per cent felt that way about the standard of living south of the border.

The Canadian segment of the survey consulted 1,007 people via landline and cellphone between Feb. 21 and April 15, a period that straddled Biden's March 24 visit to Ottawa, his first as president. It carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points. 

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Auditor General largely praises B.C. COVID-19 tourism supports, cites 'minor' shortfalls

Auditor General largely praises B.C. COVID-19 tourism supports, cites 'minor' shortfalls
Michael Pickup says there were "minor inconsistencies" with the otherwise well designed and implemented destination development grant program that handed out more than $41 million in 2021 and 2022. Pickup says 12 of the 106 projects that received money were missing notes from reviewers detailing the rationale for their decision and while due diligence was done, it wasn't well defined.

Auditor General largely praises B.C. COVID-19 tourism supports, cites 'minor' shortfalls

B.C. government to provide additional $25 million for marine restoration projects

B.C. government to provide additional $25 million for marine restoration projects
Environment Minister George Heyman told a news conference Tuesday that debris from more than 4,600 kilometres of shoreline has been removed so far, while creating more than 1,700 jobs. He says the new funding will allow the initiatives to continue to protect the coast and the communities that live there.

B.C. government to provide additional $25 million for marine restoration projects

B.C. housing non-profit at heart of controversy names interim CEO

B.C. housing non-profit at heart of controversy names interim CEO
Atira says its new CEO Catherine Roome is an experienced leader in both the public and private sectors and will head the organization until a permanent replacement for Abbott is found. Atira board chair Elva Kim says recruiting Roome is part of its effort to "restore public confidence" in the housing provider after Abbott's departure earlier this month.   

B.C. housing non-profit at heart of controversy names interim CEO

'Serve all Albertans': Smith says UCP majority government to focus on economy

'Serve all Albertans': Smith says UCP majority government to focus on economy
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says it’s time to put personal and political attacks in the “rear-view mirror” and focus on the province’s economy. Smith’s United Conservative Party won a majority government in Monday’s provincial election. 

'Serve all Albertans': Smith says UCP majority government to focus on economy

BC Ferries to reduce congestion at Horseshoe Bay terminal

BC Ferries to reduce congestion at Horseshoe Bay terminal
To encourage more travellers to use the mid-Island link between Tsawwassen and Duke Point, a number of saver fares will be offered, including one at 39-dollars for a vehicle and driver -- a roughly 50 per cent savings.

BC Ferries to reduce congestion at Horseshoe Bay terminal

Survey shows teachers stressed: BCTF

Survey shows teachers stressed: BCTF
The B-C Teachers Federation has completed its first-ever survey of members and says the results show teachers' stress and workloads are climbing. Roughly 40 per cent of teachers say they have less preparation time this year than they did in 2022 and approximately the same number say their physical or mental health is worse than it was last year.

Survey shows teachers stressed: BCTF